Time Passes, Life Goes On, But You Will Remain With Us Always

The year milestone of a life changing moment has been reached.  I wasn't sure how this moment should be approached or dealt with.  I wasn't sure of how this past year would or should be handled. It was a time of so much uncertainty.  Is there really any right way to face losing someone?

It seems that the best way I found to approach this, is how we decided from the time we first learned the diagnosis over two years ago - take one day at a time.

These days will be busy on purpose, with friends and family.  I think about this very special man everyday.  He is here in every room of this house, he's visible in each of the kids in various ways.  There's been tears and there sure will be more, but they won't out number the memories and thoughts of this amazing man.

We won't think of him as gone away

Just think of him as resting

Where there are no days or years

And think of him as living

In the hearts of those he touched

For nothing loved is ever lost

And he was loved so much

Creative Challenge with Makin's Clay

I was so happy to be included in this latest challenge with an easy, fun product. Always up for a challenge and a chance to work with interesting mediums.  Makin's Clay is not new to me, I have used it, when it first became available several years ago.  I've dabbled with polymer clays before, though not an expert and other air-dry clays out there that are fun to work with.

With this opportunity I was able to familiarize myself once again with this medium. We needed to use at least 75% of the product in our project.  I feel that I used everything in some way that I received for this challenge.

A small sketchbook that was laying around was reused and this list of products from Makin's:
Makin's - Neon Green
Makin's - Natural
Makin's - Earth Tone Assortment
Makin's - Texture Sheet Set D
Makin's - Push Mold Leaves
Makin's - Clay Cutters Bulb Ornament
Makin's - Roller and Cutter Set

The clay was rolled, textured, cut, molded, die-cut, painted, stained, dry brushed and glued.

For creating my project here are steps I took with the products:
Two of the clays were rolled out to the size needed for the background of the cover and the frame, then each piece was textured differently with the texture plates.  To change the basic color without blending clays or adding paint, I brushed the neon green clay with a dark green acrylic paint and then wiped off to highlight the "wood" texture and darken the clay slightly.  For the frame edges, natural clay was textured with the "scales" plate and antiqued with Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Stain and wiped to tint the clay.  Ranger's Perfect Pearls "Perfect Gold" was brushed over these pieces to add some depth.  Using the "Leaves" push mold and the green clay from the earth tone assortment, several leaves were formed.  Flower petals were made using another color from the assortment and "bulb ornament" clay cutters.  The lightest "flesh" color, from the assortment, was rolled out to a thin layer and dried and then die-cut into shapes to make smaller flowers.  I used different colors of Perfect Pearls to highlight all the the pieces and give them a slight shimmer.  To finish my album, all pieces were glued in place with Beacon Adhesives 3-in-1 glue.  Beads were glued in place for centers of the flowers with Beacon's Gem Tac.  Torn scraps of fabric and variegated ribbon were tied to the wire coil of the album.  A photo or a printed verse can be slipped into the frame.

There is a new blog dedicated to just the Makin's line - here is a LINK for you to check out.  Follow through to check out the twelve other creative ideas other designers who also participated in this challenge. Use the button in the sidebar at the top right for the Designer Craft Connection to follow through to the other projects.  It's so amazing to see what and how other designers  come up with and how they use the same product.

There are small amounts of clay that went unused that I'm looking forward to some experiments with.  Need to try adding paint to it, mixing colors and blending colors.  It's clean, easy, air-dry, kid-friendly and designer approved!

Makin's Clay is offering a price package valued at just over $111.00, with products including clay, tools and a Memory Frame Kit.  To enter, leave a comment on the Makin's Clay Blog, telling us which project you liked best on the blog hop.  The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries on or about October 24th.  The winner will be announced on the Makin's Clay blog, so please check back on Thursday, October 25th to find out the winner.

 The holidays are coming and it's always nice to make some little gift or holiday decoration.

Check out the Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/MakinsClay?ref=ts&fref=ts
Check out Pinterest Board: http://pinterest.com/cindibisson/makin-s-clay/

Designer Craft Connection October Edition - Fall/Halloween Ideas

Here we are the first Monday of a new month - time for more ideas.  This time around it's a fairly easy decoration to celebrate the lovely Fall season.

I have found that I now like to decorate more for the season than a specific holiday, especially at this time of the year.  There is something about the colors and motifs of Autumn that I really like.  My kids still love to decorate for Halloween and I enjoy helping them with ideas for their own homes.

Sharing a fairly simple swag to hang during this time of the year. I purchased the precut leaves from Michael's.  Each collection of oak and maple leaves came in four colors.  Some of the leaves were glittered and some plain. I used a tool from Makins' Clay to make and impression in the foam leaves as veins.  Punch a small hole into the stems of the set of leaves.  Thread some raffia through the hole and knot; then tie to a base cord.
Then a strip of torn fabric was tied around the stems (just below the knotted raffia). Continue adding the sets of leaves for any desired length needed.  This swag has finished with a set of three leaves on each end.

I have three great spots in the house to display such swags or banners and enjoy creating new ones for each spot and each season.

Please take the time to hop along through the blogs for some ideas. Follow the "button" at top right to follow through.

On Saturday October 13th, there will be a challenge that will include 12 designers with ideas using Makin's Clay.  Just a little information - this is a air dry clay that is fun and easy to work with.  The is a "give away" once again.  See this photo of the prize package worth just over $100.00.  To have the chance to enter and win, go to the Makin's Clay Blog and leave a comment. Link:http://makinsclayblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/makins-clay-blog-hop-contest.html

Hope you will come back to see the ideas from the challenge.